My hair has always been naturally curly. It's diminished in curl over the past few years. I used to be a solid 2b but then it went through a few phases of not wanting to curl after a short haircut. Now that it's growing out and I've challenged myself to not straighten my hair for a month, the curl is returning.

However, it's returning in weird places. The back of my hair is extremely curly. Definitely a 2b. However the front of my hair is maybe a 2a possibly even just straight. It lies flat and with a little bit of hairspray will create volume, but definitely not curl.

Does anyone else have this problem? I love the curl in the back but can't seem to get it to happen everywhere. I usually end up waving the front a bit with my straightener to make it look more even.

I use Tresemme Shampoo and only condition every other wash (I wash every other day). I use Aussie Curling Mousee, Big Sexy Hair mousse, and a dot of a thick gel. It starts off kinda crunchy while it's drying but softens out during the day.

Ditto. My hair seems to be curlier on the bottom than the top. Do you ever tie your hair? Maybe it's pulling out your curls? I've also noticed that my hair is curlier when wet, then straightens out when dry. Does your hair do that too? Now, I don't feel so alone.

My daughter has this issue, super wavy hair underneath a layer of straight hair on top. She is only 5 though so I don't do anything to encourage the top to be wavy and just let it be.

You could try using those curl tubes from Sallys, I forget what they're called, but they're no heat curlers. You put your hair in the tube and it curls it. Maybe if you sleep in them when you wake up in the morning your straight layer will match the rest of your hair? Just a hairspray and go kind of thing? The only other way I know to encourage curl is scrunching or try blending your straight layer with clumps of curly layers and twirling them together to encourage the curls. Sometimes there's just nothing you can do though, like my daughter she's got the top straight layer that makes her hair look straight, but then you pick up that layer and there's all these waves underneath.

2(I have no idea what pattern), low porosity, mix of medium and coarse, dense

*Have just discovered the amazingness that is the "Spritz and Condish" routine*

I second this! Additionally, besides damage from straightening, another reason your top layers may not curl or wave up as much is because they dry first while the layers underneath stay damp/wet longer, encouraging the natural wave pattern. This is another indication that your hair needs more moisture if you want it to reach full wavy/curly potential!

2a/b, high porosity, fine strands, average density, just about shoulder blade length

My hair loves moisture!

currently mod-cg , using low-poo and not totally cone-free yet. I'll get there though!

My daughter has this issue, super wavy hair underneath a layer of straight hair on top. She is only 5 though so I don't do anything to encourage the top to be wavy and just let it be.

Sometimes there's just nothing you can do though, like my daughter she's got the top straight layer that makes her hair look straight, but then you pick up that layer and there's all these waves underneath.

Originally Posted by txwvy32

My daughter is exactly the same lol, and she's 6. She has a lot of hair too, so I tend to think it's the same issue where the under layers stay wet longer and the top dries faster. I haven't really tried to do anything about it yet.

2a/b, high porosity, fine strands, average density, just about shoulder blade length

My hair loves moisture!

currently mod-cg , using low-poo and not totally cone-free yet. I'll get there though!